Once upon a time, on a bright sunny day, a crow was flying high in the sky, searching for something to eat. As it soared above the trees and fields, the crow’s sharp eyes spotted a snake slithering quietly through the tall grass below. The crow’s stomach rumbled. “That snake looks like a perfect meal,” the crow thought.

Without thinking twice, the crow swooped down, flapping its wings hard as it got closer to the snake. The crow imagined how tasty the snake would be and didn’t stop to consider if it might be dangerous.

But the snake saw the crow coming! Just as the crow was about to grab it, the snake coiled up and struck with lightning speed. Its sharp fangs sank into the crow’s wing, and the crow let out a loud squawk of pain.

Startled and hurt, the crow quickly flapped its wings and flew back up into the sky, far away from the snake. The crow landed on a high branch, gasping for breath and feeling the sting of the snake’s bite. “What was I thinking?” the crow muttered to itself. “I should have known better than to attack something like that.”

The crow sat on the branch, feeling both embarrassed and in pain. It realized that it had let its hunger cloud its judgment. “Some prey just isn’t worth the risk,” the crow thought, shaking its head. “Next time, I’ll be smarter about what I go after. Not every opportunity is a good one.”

From that day on, the crow was much more careful about what it hunted. It knew now that some things, no matter how tempting they seemed, were just too dangerous. The crow learned to think twice before diving into a situation that might be more trouble than it was worth.

Moral:

Know your limits and avoid unnecessary danger. It’s important to think carefully before taking risks, especially when the consequences might be more than you can handle.

Parenting Tip: This story is a great way to teach kids about assessing risks before acting on impulses. Help your child reflect on situations where caution is important, like trying something new or deciding how to handle conflicts. Encourage them to ask questions like, “Is this safe?” or “What could happen next?” to build critical thinking skills.

Fun Questions for Curious Kids

• Why do you think the crow was so eager to catch the snake?
• How do you think the snake felt when it saw the crow coming?
• What would you have done if you were the crow?
• What other animals might teach us lessons about being careful?
• Can you think of a time when you had to stop and think before doing something?
• If the crow could speak to the snake after the incident, what do you think they would say to each other?
• How would the story have changed if the crow had thought twice before attacking the snake?
• What’s something you’ve learned about taking risks from this story?

Did You Know? Fascinating Animal Facts

1. Crows are some of the smartest birds in the world! They can use tools, solve puzzles, and even recognize human faces.
2. Crows have excellent memories and can remember things that happen to them for a long time.
3. Some snakes, like cobras and vipers, are venomous and use their venom to protect themselves or catch prey.
4. Snakes don’t have ears like humans but can sense vibrations in the ground to detect movement.
5. Many animals have developed ways to avoid being eaten. For example, some butterflies look like leaves to hide from predators.
6. Birds of prey like eagles and hawks carefully watch their surroundings before hunting, just like the crow should have done!
7. A snake’s strike is incredibly fast—it can happen in less than a second! That’s why they are so good at defending themselves.

Activity Idea:

“Think Before You Leap Game“

Play a decision-making game with your child. Create scenarios where they must choose between different actions. For example:

• Scenario 1: You see a shiny object in a tree. Do you climb the tree without checking if it’s safe or ask an adult first?
• Scenario 2: A big dog is barking behind a fence. Do you go near it, or do you watch from a safe distance?

Talk about why it’s important to pause and think before acting in certain situations.

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!